Changing the world... one word at a time.
11-year-old Akeelah Anderson has a way with words. After winning her schoolwide spelling bee, she decides to enter the competition, despite her classmates' derision and the antipathy of her mother Tanya. Thanks to the efforts of her teacher Dr. Larabee, she reaches the finala. As she gets to know her fellow competitors, Akeelah realizes that coming first isn't everything in life.
spelling
spelling bee
family drama
single mother
community spirit
pre-teen
parental abuse
south central los angeles
black community
independent film
inspired by true story